Magic in the Moonlight
Sony Pictures Classics | Release Date: July 25, 2014
6.4
USER SCORE
Generally favorable reviews based on 122 Ratings
USER RATING DISTRIBUTION
Positive:
58
Mixed:
51
Negative:
13
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User Reviews

User scoreBy dateMost helpful
5
TVJerryAug 19, 2014
recommend it is the look: Darius Khondji's beautiful cinematography, the lovely locations and the rich costumes. Colin Firth plays a misanthrope magician who travels to the south of France to debunk a supposed medium (Emma Stone). Firthrecommend it is the look: Darius Khondji's beautiful cinematography, the lovely locations and the rich costumes. Colin Firth plays a misanthrope magician who travels to the south of France to debunk a supposed medium (Emma Stone). Firth blusters his way thru the endless arrogant rants, but the dialogue lacks any life and his changes of heart seem unmotivated and sudden. Allen moves it along with a bouncy pace, but its lack of interesting characters or snappy script make it bubbly but dull.… Expand
5 of 5 users found this helpful50
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5
manofthemoonJan 5, 2015
Highly watchable performances from MacCormack and Firth in a script Woody Allen probably wrote in an afternoon. Easily Allen's laziest work in years, yet annoyingly still watchable. What should be perfect fodder for Allen to cast his cynicalHighly watchable performances from MacCormack and Firth in a script Woody Allen probably wrote in an afternoon. Easily Allen's laziest work in years, yet annoyingly still watchable. What should be perfect fodder for Allen to cast his cynical eye over, the film feels like a missed opportunity.… Expand
1 of 1 users found this helpful10
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6
tvnewsguidoJan 16, 2015
Watchable but not spectacular.

Fans of Woody Allen will find a lot to like about this picture but it is as predictable and unconvincing as the magic act presented in the opening scene.
0 of 1 users found this helpful01
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4
Moxie7Aug 18, 2014
The ending came way too soon. Where was the rest of the movie??? Why have all those wonderful actors and not use them. Maybe it's time for Woody Allen to retire.
0 of 1 users found this helpful01
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5
csw12Dec 28, 2014
Magic in the Moonlight provides some decent performances from Firth and Stone along with a wonderful art direction but even those positive traits can't help a mediocre cheesy film.
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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6
SpangleJan 11, 2017
For an atheist such as himself, this ultimately means a critique of religion or spiritual elements that he rejects as fake scams. Yet, here, Allen shows a hint of regret for his full on rejection of faith and religion. Certainly, Magic in theFor an atheist such as himself, this ultimately means a critique of religion or spiritual elements that he rejects as fake scams. Yet, here, Allen shows a hint of regret for his full on rejection of faith and religion. Certainly, Magic in the Moonlight does not endorse religion or show an about face turn from the director's hard line stance on the subject, but it does show a tinge of regret. While his aforementioned 2010 picture, which could be seen as a companion piece to this one, explored the joy of delusion, this film shows the joy of not being so pessimistic and antagonistic. Instead, enjoying the simple magic of daily life and the mysteries of the world that science cannot answer, one can find unbridled joy.

Starring Colin Firth and Emma Stone, the romance of the film may go awry a bit since Firth is twice Stone's age, but as with all of Allen's films, philosophy plays a huge part. Name dropping Freud and Nietzsche as often as he name drops God, Allen toys with the idea of his surrogate, magician and skeptic Stanley Crawford (Firth), coming to religion upon meeting Sophie Baker (Stone). A famed magician and debunker of mediums, Stanley is tasked with debunking Sophie as a medium capable of communicating with spirits. However, whatever her trick, Stanley begins to believe she actually is a medium and, as such, the very core of his beliefs is shaken beyond repair. When his aunt has an accident is in the hospital, he even begins to pray. But, he catches himself and begins to chastise himself for actually believing in Sophie and, as such, a spiritual side to the world. However, he is so pessimistic and self-righteous, he is unable to look beyond the scope of his own opinion. He merely looks at religion and the belief in mediums as nothing but delusions that distract people from their pain, rather than being actual solutions.

This pessimism hurts him in his romance with Sophie. He is such a pragmatist, he is unable to give into chance and take a risk with a girl who may be worth taking a risk for. Instead, he has a set idea as to what the woman he is with is supposed to do and be like. The feelings Sophie conjures within him are foreign and beyond rational thought, as such, they are wrong. Since they are inexplicable, it is beyond comprehension that is anything but his heart steering his head, which is disastrous. Thus, she must be rejected unless she agrees. It is only once he begins to look past this hard headedness that he begins to believe in her and, even when this faith is shaken, he is able to give into the magical mysteriousness of the world and follow his heart.

To me, this seems to be an admission of regret by Allen. Just as You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger saw him conceding that those that give into "delusions" are happier than he will ever be, Magic in the Moonlight finds him admitting he should be less pessimistic. While he can still be an atheist, being outspoken on the subject and some focused on rationality may not be the best course of action, given the unbridled joy that giving into magic can create.

All of that said though, the chemistry between Firth and Stone could have been better. The casting of them as the leads is curious and hurts the final product, as does the predictability of the whole thing. That said, both turn in solid performances, even if neither is excellent in the film. The real joy is yet another late-period Woody Allen flick that finds him dumping characters into the European countryside and letting them drive around. That said, it does deviate a bit from his other works as it is far less neurotic than many of his films. Though Firth spews a lot of Allen-esque lines in regards to philosophy, he lacks the chaotic and colliding way of speaking that Allen has and many Allen surrogates have had, driving at the character's neurotic state of being. In Magic in the Moonlight, neurosis is not nearly as much of a factor, especially in comparison to the melancholy tinge of regret that dominates this picture. Mildly funny and somewhat romantic, the film largely succeeds philosophically and with the easy and light nature of entertainment that Woody Allen films always provide.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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6
sanyrubApr 20, 2015
A 6.5 out of 10 for me. As always, Allen displays his unmistakable style beautifully. The film looks gorgeous and there´s chemistry between the two main actors, new to Allen´s universe: Emma Stone and Colin Firth. Especially Emma shines andA 6.5 out of 10 for me. As always, Allen displays his unmistakable style beautifully. The film looks gorgeous and there´s chemistry between the two main actors, new to Allen´s universe: Emma Stone and Colin Firth. Especially Emma shines and glows throughout the film, which is probably the reason why she will repeat with Allen for his next film. However, the story does not tell much. It´s a light film and very well done. Nothing else.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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5
lukechristianscApr 22, 2015
Once in a while we can watch a wondrous crafted Woody Allen movie, and his latest 'Magic in the moonlight' we have two adoring actors Colin Firth and Emma Stone, have some well chemistry, but hasn't Allen do the same location for hisOnce in a while we can watch a wondrous crafted Woody Allen movie, and his latest 'Magic in the moonlight' we have two adoring actors Colin Firth and Emma Stone, have some well chemistry, but hasn't Allen do the same location for his films? But that doesn't matter. The music is so original and invigorating, the script very well written, the imagery is beautiful and the actors are elegant as well. But hey we knew this would be coming it is to predictable! Grade A-… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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6
Brent_MarchantJul 26, 2014
A modestly amusing though not especially stellar offering from Woody Allen that could have benefited from better lead performances and, surprisingly, sharper writing (particularly in the last half hour). A fine supporting cast and terrificA modestly amusing though not especially stellar offering from Woody Allen that could have benefited from better lead performances and, surprisingly, sharper writing (particularly in the last half hour). A fine supporting cast and terrific period piece production values help to shore up some of these other shortcomings, making for a mildly entertaining, though not especially memorable, time at the movies.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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5
IrisBJan 24, 2015
Woody Allen has nothing to say for real in this movie. A good cast, with Colin Firth, and Emma Stone leading, tries to raise the level up, but can't really succeed. Obviously the beautiful south coast of France and the rich costumes helpWoody Allen has nothing to say for real in this movie. A good cast, with Colin Firth, and Emma Stone leading, tries to raise the level up, but can't really succeed. Obviously the beautiful south coast of France and the rich costumes help forgetting the absence of a real meaning for a while, but do not really compensate. This Romantic Comedy can help you forget about the sad reality for an hour and a half, but nothing more than that.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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6
JLuis_001Sep 7, 2017
For many people Magic in the Moonlight was a weak film in Allen's filmography, but that depends on the baton on which they are measuring it.
This film is a sister of Midnight In Paris and From Rome With Love, even Blue Jazmin shares certainFor many people Magic in the Moonlight was a weak film in Allen's filmography, but that depends on the baton on which they are measuring it.
This film is a sister of Midnight In Paris and From Rome With Love, even Blue Jazmin shares certain elements in its concept, the style is similar but with its clear and obvious differences, to that extent this a complete work and a worthy addition.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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4
geewahJan 13, 2021
Stone and Firth have some of the worst on-screen chemistry I have ever seen, in a movie that doesn't live up to it's title.
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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